GIUSEPPE VERDI LES VÊPRES SICILIENNES MICHAEL VOLLE ∙ JEAN TEITGEN BRYAN HYMEL ∙ ERWIN SCHROtt ORCHEstRA OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE CONDUCTED BY ANTONIO PAPPANO stAGED BY STEFAN HERHEIm GIUSEPPE VERDI This staging of Verdi’s rarely-performed opera Les Vêpres siciliennes – directed by Stefan Herheim and conducted by The Royal Opera’s Music LES VÊPRES SICILIENNES Director, Verdi specialist Sir Antonio Pappano – went on to win the prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production. The Sunday Conductor Antonio Pappano Times hailed it “the best the Verdi year in Britain has to offer”, praising the Orchestra Orchestra of the standout event of the Verdi bicentenary celebrations. Royal Opera House Chorus Royal Opera Chorus The story follows the ‘Sicilian Vespers‘ which ist he name given to the Stage Director Stefan Herheim successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out on the Easter of 1282 against the rule oft he French-born king Charles I. Hélène is Guy de Montfort Michael Volle held hostage by Montfort, the French governor, who has had her brother Le Sire de Béthune Jean Teitgen executed. She turns to the partisan Jean Procida and the rebellious patriot Le Comte de Vaudemont Jeremy White Henri in her bid for vengeance. Henri Bryan Hymel Stefan Herheim brings Verdi’s tale of revenge, family relations and patriotism Procida Erwin Schrott to Covent Garden for the first time. His imaginative production draws Hélène Lianna Haroutounian parallels between the opera and the opera house for which it was written, Ninetta Michelle Daly including a spectacular re-creation of the Paris Opéra itself. “Together Daniéli Nico Darmanin with designer Philipp Fürhofer, Herheim not only shifts the action of the Thibault Neal Cooper opera from 13th-century, French-occupied Sicily to Paris in the year of its Robert Jihoon Kim premiere, but locates it specifically in the Salle le Peletier, the theatre in Mainfroid Jung Soo Yun which that first performance took place. Fürhofer’s sets provide spectacular cross-sections of auditorium and stage, their geometry always shifting“ (The Video Director Rhodri Huw Guardian) The music deligths likewise: “Antonio Pappano does a magnificent job in Length: 179' sustaining the spans of each act, seizing on every chance to bring the score Shot in HDTV 1080/50i to life; the choruses, especially have a blazing immediacy. […] Both Michael Cat. no. A 020 50053 Volle as Montfort, the French governor and Bryan Hymel as Henri, the son that Montfort fathered when he raped a local woman, are tirelessly superb A production of – Volle’s brooding aria at the beginning of the third act is the highlight of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden whole evening.” (The Guardian) World Sales: All rights reserved · credits not contractual · Different territories · Photos: © Bill Cooper · Flyer: luebbeke.com Flyer: · Cooper contractual Bill Different Photos: © territories credits · not rights · All reserved · Tel. +49.30.30306464 [email protected] Unitel GmbH & Co. KG, Germany · Tel. +49.89.673469-630 · [email protected] www.unitelclassica.com.